Kilbirnie Auld Kirk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kilbirnie Auld Kirk |
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| 55°44′48″N 4°41′12″W / 55.74667°N 4.68667°W | |
| Denomination | Church of Scotland |
| Churchmanship | Ministers and Elders in C of S |
| Website | Auld Kirk |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Kilbirnie |
| Presbytery | Ardrossan |
Kilbirnie Auld Kirk is an old church building in Kilbirnie, North Ayrshire, Scotland. It belongs to the Church of Scotland. The building itself is very old, dating back to the 15th century (the 1400s).
The church group that meets today was formed in 1978. This happened when two local churches, Glengarnock Parish Church and Barony Church, joined together. The historic Kilbirnie Auld Kirk building is no longer used for regular worship. The congregation now meets at the Kilbirnie New Parish Church on Glasgow Street.
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History of Kilbirnie Auld Kirk
This church was once known as "The Barony Church." It got this name because John Craufurd of Kilbirnie received a special land title called a "barony" in 1641. The church stands on a very old site. A monastic cell, which was a small religious home, existed here in the 6th century.
The town of Kilbirnie gets its name from this church. The name comes from the Gaelic language. Cil (pronounced 'kil') means "church," and it's combined with the name of St Brendan. So, Kilbirnie means "Church of St Brendan." The term "Auld Kirk" simply means "Old Church" in the Scots language.
The Craufurd Tomb and a Brave Captain
Inside the church, you can find the Craufurd tomb. This tomb holds statues of Captain Thomas Craufurd of Jordanhill and his wife, Janet Ker of Kersland. Thomas Craufurd became famous for a brave act. He captured Dumbarton Castle for King James VI. As a reward for his courage, he was given lands near Glasgow called Jordanhill.
Captain Craufurd died on January 3, 1603. The inscription on his tomb is from 1594 and reads: GOD SCHAW THE RICHT. HEIR LYIS THOMAS CRAUFURD OF IORDANHILL SEXT SON TO LAURENCE CRAUFURD OF KILBIRNY AND IONET KER HIS SPOUS ELDEST DOCHTER TO ROBERT FER OF KERRISLAND 1594.
Architecture of the Old Church
The oldest part of the church is the nave, which was built around 1470. A bell tower with two sections was added about 20 years later. Later, in 1597, aisles were added for the Cunninghames of Glengarnock family. Another aisle was built in 1642 for the Crawfords. Much later, between 1903 and 1905, a transept (a part of the church that crosses the main body) and a new front entrance were added.
The church has many beautiful features inside. One of the most impressive is the Crawford Loft, built around 1705. It has very detailed designs. Another special feature is the 17th-century sounding board above the pulpit. This board helps to direct the speaker's voice to the congregation. Many of the church windows are decorated with colorful stained glass.
The Kilbirnie Auld Kirk and its cemetery walls are considered a very important historic building. They are listed as a category 'A' historic building.
Images for kids
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The viewing window in the 1594 tomb of Captain Thomas Crawfurd of Jordanhill.
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The Crawfurd's tomb with the old Kirk in the background.
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Inscription and Coat of Arms on the Crawford tomb.
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Statues of Thomas Crawfurd and Janet Kerr.
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A very unusual gravestone bearing a sundial.
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A close-up of the sundial's inscription.
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Memorials for the Knox of Place family and others.
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The Lord's Loft.
See also
